Public Health Department statement on first human case of West Nile Virus in Santa Clara County
This season’s first human case of West Nile Virus in a Santa Clara County resident has been reported to the Public Health Department. Because the individual lives in Santa Clara County, the illness was reported here; however, the disease was contracted elsewhere in California. The individual is an adult and was hospitalized but is now recovering at home. For reasons of medical privacy, no additional details about the individual’s illness will be released by the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department.
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that causes mild to severe flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, and in severe cases, neurological symptoms or even death. Most people who contract the virus have mild or no symptoms and will recover quickly. The risk of serious illness from West Nile virus is low for most people. However, people over 60 years of age, or with certain medical conditions, have a higher chance of getting sick and are more likely to develop health complications.
You can help reduce the risk of West Nile Virus by draining standing water, such as flower pots, and following other prevention recommendations from County of Santa Clara Vector Control. More information about West Nile virus in California is available from the Centers for Disease Control, the State of California and the County of Santa Clara Vector Control District.